Netgear or Unifi switches for additional switching

[nicholab]

Hi I currently have an all Netgear Network. We are having a new block built which will go back to an existing cabinet which has a Netgear switch. We are also having a new Library and computer resources room created out of a remodeled area of the School. I am going to end up with one new Cab for the remodeled area and need to add additional switching to the other cab. Do you think that I should deploy Unifi or Netgear switching to these area's? I am also considering using Unifi wireless in the new block with a view to migrating the whole school but I still torn between the Unifi Pro and the HD AP.

[Davit2005]

Really depends on the size of the estate and how many users. There are a number of things to consider.

 

Whilst the Unify US switches i.e. US-8-150's are nicely managed via the Unifi Controller there are known issues with Spanning. So I wouldn't be keen on big network roll out.

 

I've jus bought a EdgeSwitch for home network and will be testing this over weekend and should come back with a verdict of my thoughts.

 

There are no issues running Unifi APs from switches such as HP, it would be nice if the Unifi AP's supported LLDP as well.

[nicholab]

Really depends on the size of the estate and how many users. There are a number of things to consider.

 

Whilst the Unify US switches i.e. US-8-150's are nicely managed via the Unifi Controller there are known issues with Spanning. So I wouldn't be keen on big network roll out.

 

I've jus bought a EdgeSwitch for home network and will be testing this over weekend and should come back with a verdict of my thoughts.

 

There are no issues running Unifi APs from switches such as HP, it would be nice if the Unifi AP's supported LLDP as well.

 

That suggest sticking with the L2 proper cli managed switches from Netgear. These would only be used as access switches in the edge cabs. Or should I consider Juniper or HP.

[localzuk]

We've got a couple of Unifi switches in place now - and I can recommend them for the edge switch roles. They work pretty well, and getting them configured is pretty quick and easy.

[markwilfan]

Love the unifi range. We are 1/4 unifi and 3/4 hp . Much prefer the bigger picture unifi gives me of my infra. With waps look out for the unifi hd nano. Looks like a good future product https://unifi-nanohd.ubnt.com/

[mdrabble]

I replaced my old netgear switches with Unifi Edgeswitch Lites (21 in total) and not regretted it!

 

Nothing wrong with netgear, but I wanted cli access and lldp support. None of my netgear support cli and approx half didn’t support lldp.

 

Ive added VLANs and cli access and lldp were a god send!!

 

Went for the Lites as budget was tight.

 

Very easy to configure and have CLI access

[FN-GM]

The good thing with Unfi is the updates. They are really easy to apply and do bring new features. The management software works well. I am considering purchasing an 8 Port device for home.

 

Although for us we are sticking with Cisco as they offer more features that we do use (stacking & Dynamic ARP Inspection for example) and are about the same price as HP.

Edited April 14, 2018 by FN-GM

[nicholab]

Would you rather have unifi or do waas? I like the idea of a unifi but wonder if I am being a cheapskate but it would still cost £15k to install the unifi HD units site wide. Would you go with a split of 3 different ap pro, hd and external?

[XiJ]

I’d prefer the Ubiquiti edge switches to unifi. Much more configurable - but not managed in the unifi controller.

[markwilfan]

I’d prefer the Ubiquiti edge switches to unifi. Much more configurable - but not managed in the unifi controller.

Soon you'll be able to manage edge switches with unms https://unms.com

[XiJ]

Soon you'll be able to manage edge switches with unms https://unms.com

 

I’d not seen that but i was expecting it would happen eventually. Nice. Thanks.

[mdrabble]

NMS edge switch lites is very basic at the moment, you can manage firmware and get some stats about uptime and loads but that is about it for the moment.

[Davit2005]

So I spent a bit of small bit of time with the ES-16-XG, the Web GUI is a doodle to use even for a Newbie to the EdgeSwitch. One thing that defo stands out is the speed of the web interface, this is not the latest web GUI with the Unifi type interface and access to the legacy interface mind. As a lover of doing things via the CLI, certainly on HP switches it is almost as quick to do them in the Web GUI of the EdgeSwitch. The CLI still does give you ability to change things on MASS much quicker than the GUI in some areas.

 

 

I had no issues of spanning tree with the EdgeSwitch like I did with the US-8-150 that I bought and then quickly replaced with the HP2530-8G PoE+ .

 

Spanning Tree info could be a bit more informative i.e. telling which ports are blocked, forwarding etc. however.

Edited April 16, 2018 by Davit2005

[nicholab]

In my current cab I have a GS728TPS this cab is going to have the new build being feed from it. This is where I am planning to put a 48 port Unifi or Netgear switch or would it be worth getting a new switch for the new location 24 port should be adequate but thinking of getting a 48 port? Unifi don't stack but you can get a 10 Gbit copper link. How did you decided what POE power allowance you wanted on the Unifi?

[forkies]

Just on a side note. If you are going with the 48 port Poe you might want to measure the depth of the cab, a friend of mine didn’t and ended up having to replace the cabinet and get the fibre reterminated as the cab wasn’t deep enough.

[forkies]

Poe power, I calculated the load of the devices I was going to run off of it. Using existing measurements off switches and then data specs from the other vendors website.

[markwilfan]

Deploying 48-port PoE switch is very popular in SMBs, public areas, schools and hospitals, etc. As for a 48-port PoE Layer 2+ switch with 10GbE ability, such as FS S1600-48T4S, it can be used as a core switch, and the simplified management functions also facilitate in monitoring and configuring the switch.

This is obviously a bit account

[Mr_Jiminy]

I had no issues of spanning tree with the EdgeSwitch like I did with the US-8-150 that I bought and then quickly replaced with the HP2530-8G PoE+ .

 

What exactly is the spanning tree issue experienced with the Unifi switch line?

[Davit2005]

What exactly is the spanning tree issue experienced with the Unifi switch line?

 

Enabling STP kills networks the network switch is connected to.

 

I'd strongly suggest using EdgeSwitches in any environment apart from very basic or Home.

[Mr_Jiminy]

Enabling STP kills networks the network switch is connected to.

 

I'd strongly suggest using EdgeSwitches in any environment apart from very basic or Home.

 

And this is confirmed as still being a current trait of the unifi series - even after recent firmware revisions?

[FN-GM]

Enabling STP kills networks the network switch is connected to.

 

I'd strongly suggest using EdgeSwitches in any environment apart from very basic or Home.

 

That sounds like a configuration problem to me. Something like root guard can cause this.

[forkies]

I’m running STP on my unifi switches I recently installed 6 of them varied 8, 24 and 48 port. Running STP, our other switches are a mix of HP/Aruba and Netgear.

 

I am actually replacing some netgears with unifi switch range due to issues with Netgear not liking STP recently.

[FN-GM]

What version of STP are you guys using (both those with and without issues).

[mdrabble]

Running 21 x Edgeswitch lites and had no issues

[Mr_Jiminy]

Running 21 x Edgeswitch lites and had no issues

 

Different line.